Van-Far beats Marion County, Bowling Green

Posted on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 5:44 pm

The Van-Far Lady Indians Ciara Craven was there to back up Haven Atkinson as she made a play at second base during a softball game against the Bowling Green Lady Bobcats on Wednesday, October 2. Van-Far would go on to win 5-2.-photo by Amy Patterson/Bowling Green Times

The Van-Far Lady Indians softball team hosted the Marion County Lady Mustangs on September 30. Van-Far pulled out the win, 8-7.
The game was scoreless through three innings of play. In the fourth, Marion County started off with a single, followed by back-to-back doubles that brought in two runs.
In the bottom of the fourth, Brooke Johnson led off with a single. Lindsey Nitcher was brought in to pinch run for Johnson. Annaliese Hubert walked and Ciara Craven got a hit to load the bases.
Kaylein Wilson hit a pop-up in the infield, but it was dropped allowing Nitcher to score. Madison Baumbach then singled to drive in Hubert and Craven.
In the fifth Inning, the Lady Mustangs scored two runs on a triple and two singles.
Melani Hamlett led off the bottom of the fifth with a double, and then later scored on a single by Hubert.
The Lady Mustangs scored another run in the top of the seventh. The Lady Indians were down by two runs when Haven Atkinson got on base with a bunt single. Hamlett then got a double on a miss played ball, which allowed Atkinson to score. Breanna Strange got an RBI single as Hamlett ran all the way home from second base.
A Marion County lead off home-run in the eighth pushed them ahead by one run.
With two outs in Van-Far’s final at-bat, Atkinson walked, but then scored on a big hit by Hamlett that was dropped in the outfield.
Jayda Borgmeyer then came in as pinch runner for Hamlett.
Strange hit a single to center field that sent Borgmeyer home to score the winning run.
Payton Willis pitched eight innings, allowing seven runs and 11 hits. Willis walked two and struck out six.
“We did not play stellar defense behind Payton. There were several balls that we could have made plays on that could have prevent a run, but she battled,” said head coach Wes Rowden.
October 1
The Elsberry Lady Indians came to town October 1 to face the Van-Far Lady Indians on their home turf. Elsberry won 12-3.
In the second inning, back-to-back walks, two hits, an infield error, and a home-run contributed to five Elsberry runs.
The Lady Indians scored three in the third with a lead-off single by Madison Orr, a walk to Wilson, and RBI doubles by Willis and Atkinson. Atkinson later scored on a wild pitch.
Elsberry increased their lead in the sixth by scoring five runs and added two in the seventh.
“They are a good ball club. They won our district last year and basically have the same team. I am sure they will be the number one seed again this year, as well as the favorite to win. But if we can get some key hits and play solid defense I really believe we can give them a good run,” Rowden said.
October 2
The Lady Indians traveled to nearby Bowling Green on Wednesday, October 2 to face the Lady Bobcats. The Lady Indians took home a win 5-2 over their rivals.
The Lady Indians got things started in the first inning by scoring four runs. Hamlett singled with one out and then scored on a double by Strange. Hubert and Craven each got a hit, and Orr reached base on an error to load the bases. Hubert and Craven then scored on a on a throwing error on a ball hit by Baumbach. Bowling Green got a run in the third and in the fourth inning.
The Lady Indians scored their fifth run in the seventh on a two-out hit by Johnson. Wilson was the pinch-runner for Johnson, and then scored on a hit by Craven.
“Tonight the shoe was on the other foot. We got a few breaks and cashed in on our opponents mistakes. It has been the other way around in several games for us this year,” Rowden said.
The Lady Indians will be the No. 2 seed, playing in district competition on Thursday, October 10 at 7 p.m.